"What is Wix.com?" (2017 Review, Costs, and Other Site Builder Q&As)

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By: Alexandra Leslie
Updated: September 28, 2017

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In general, I’m a proponent of DIY. I don’t want to pay someone to come out and set up by cable box, I don’t want hand-holding as I play around with keyboards to determine which laptop to buy, and I didn’t follow the instructions when assembling an exersaucer for my 6-month-old cousin, much to his father’s chagrin.

Website builders are the DIYer’s dream. If you want to build a site without hiring a developer or learning to code, Wix probably is (or should be) on your short list of prospective tools for the job.

The short version: Wix is an online website builder owned by a company also called Wix.

What is Wix Website Builder’s Overall Rating?

I actually took the browser-based site builder for a spin recently. I played with theme options, evaluated the ease of use, sized up the functionality compared to the cost, and put together a beastly in-depth review. While Wix is certainly one of the best and most well-known website building platforms in the industry, we outline our ratings and feedback on the builder below.

BEST OVERALLRATING

Wix: Our Expert's Review

Setup time: 4 minutes

Alexandra Leslie (HostingAdvice.com):
As a web builder, Wix is an industry leader when it comes to ease of use, setup time, and available features. The browser-based, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) site-building service is hands down one of the foremost brands in this industry niche, and... Go to full review »

What Does Wix Cost?

When it comes to pricing, we find Wix to be so-so. The cost isn’t as high as Squarespace, but it certainly falls on the pricier end of the spectrum laid out by the best site builder plans. Bottom line: Wix isn’t the most competitive cost-wise, but it still costs only a few dollars per month for the most basic plan. Plus, you can start designing with Wix for free!

How Does Wix Compare to Other Site Builders?

If site building were a popularity contest, Wix would certainly be sitting with the cool kids. The platform holds its own among the ranks of Weebly, Squarespace, and WordPress.com. You’ll notice in our head-to-head comparison of the top site builders, however, that each platform has its own strengths and areas that could be improved.

Design & Customization: Wix vs. Others

Wix is a quick-to-launch site builder platform. Sign up with a Facebook or Gmail account, and you’re browsing themes in seconds. Something I consider most appealing about Wix compared with other site builders is not just the number of themes available but how they’re organized. Wix offers industry-specific template categories, so whether you’re a Realtor, a musician, or the owner of a bed and breakfast you quickly find a design to complement your brand.

eCommerce: Wix vs. Others

While Wix templates cater to business niches, the eCommerce functionalities are pretty basic: shopping carts, multiple payment gateways, and tools to manage shipping options and tax rules. If you’re serious about growing an online business — planning on displaying hundreds or thousands of products and expecting all the traffic and revenue to follow — I invite you to check out the top eCommerce hosts and accompanying website builders:

Blogging: Wix vs. Others

Can you use Wix to start a blog? Absolutely! Blogging is just one of the many template categories available. Food Blog, Fashion Blog, Business Blog — you name your blogging niche, and Wix probably has a ready-to-go design waiting for you. Because the editor is a WYSIWYG layout (meaning, what you see is what you get), the blog setup experience is highly intuitive. Point and click or drag and drop to customize the layout, and then focus on the words on the screen. Now, is Wix your best option for blogging? Personally, I’d go with the #1 web host for bloggers:

BLOGRATING

InMotion: Our Expert's Review

Setup time: 7 minutes

PJ Fancher (HostingAdvice.com):
What could be a more perfect fit for blog hosting than a host that offers pre-installed WordPress? InMotion allows users to host unlimited WordPress sites on a single account, along with unlimited storage, transfers, and bandwidth…Go to full review »

Ease of Use & Support: Wix vs. Others

The Wix interface is super easy to learn — highly intuitive and likely to leave you with an end result you’ll love. It’s not the most robust platform, but it doesn’t need to be to fill the needs of the vast majority of its users. A side effect of its being fairly basic and cheap, though, is you’re not exactly paying for an always-on-call support team of technical gurus.

As a paying customer, you’ll have access to Wix’s customer support line, live chat, and ticketing service. However, going with an equally affordable shared hosting company will give you not only more site building and marketing features but a better customer support experience.

Is Wix for You?

You’ll be pleased to know that my baby cousin didn’t fall to his demise as a result of my do-it-myself exersaucer building. He’s now standing all by himself, and while I can’t take all the credit, I have no regrets about my DIY approach. Likewise, you should have no qualms about choosing Wix as a site builder. It’s a fantastic tool for a reasonable cost. If you’re not sold, though, be sure to check out other site builder plans we recommend.

Questions or Comments? Ask Alexandra!

Ask a question and Alexandra will respond to you. We strive to provide the best advice on the net and we are here to help you in any way we can.

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About the Author

Alexandra Leslie

Alexandra Leslie’s interest in website administration was sparked in her teens, priming her for a fast-paced career in managing, building, and contributing to online brands, including HostingAdvice, Forbes, and the blogs of prominent hosting providers. She brings to the table firsthand experience in reviewing web hosts, perfecting website design, optimizing content, and walking site owners through the steps that add up to a successful online presence. Today, she combines her extensive writing experience with technical understanding to unpack some of the most complex topics that daunt novice website owners, as well as the subjects that excite veteran technologists within the HostingAdvice readership.

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